The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1887-03-17
CAUGHT III A CAVE.
How John Wright Unearihcd q Criminal
In the Mountains of West Virginia.

"In the fall of the year 1875 learned
there was reward of 81 800 for Il yo,ng
g>an who had killed two men in the blue
grass section of Kentucky and burned
the house over their bodies" said John
Wright, noted criminal-catcher of East
Tennessee, 10 I correspondent of The
Nashville american. The detectives
had traced his father to the mountains
OF West Virginia, on the head of Elk
river, close to where the 1st Tennessee
regiment camped during the civil war in
1861. The detectives knew the young
man was in this section but could not
catch him. although lois of time and
money was spent after him.
"a had been up there in that section
before, hunting for horse thieves and
criminals, and knew it was rough
country, but determined 10 catch that
young man, SO got two trusty men and
planned everything before we got in his
section of country. rode ahead of the
two men and came to the old mans
house at dark, and got permission to
stay all night. told him had met
with bad luck, that some parties had
swindled me out OF my mule and l had
stolen him back again, and was expect
ing they were following NE. appeared
to be very much excited, and asked him
to help me out of the trouble and keep
me hid from the men. The two men
came and asked the old man if he had
seen a medium-sized white man 90 by
his house riding black mule. The old
m,n swore that he had not. saw the
men ride away from the place where /
was hid. The old man came in and
told me all they said. was terribly ex-
cited and asked the old man to take me
out in the mountains to n good hiding
place. for L WAS certain they would re-
.urn that night. He took me out in the
dark about one mile from his house, and
hid me and my mule behind big fod-
der stack. under a projecting rock,
which would haze made US very COM
Portable quarters if it had not been for
the big rats that jumped over me like
kangeroos in countless numbers.
Il staid in this rat den for several days
without seeing anybody but the old man
who brought ne my meals. One dag /
gave him $40 in gold. and told him that
was all the money had. As could
not tell how long would remain there
wanted him to take good care of me.
The old MAJ was pleased to get the
money, and asked me if wasn't getting
mighty lonesome, and il l didn't want
partner. l told him was afraid he
would betray me. No says he, he is
my son. and is good standing-in man.
and if you want him will take you to
him tonight when the moon goes down. ,
"Whcn it was dark as it could get the
old man came down there 10 me and We
started to meet his son. He lived in a
cave that had four-foot entrance, but
after we go. inside the cave it opened in
one large beautiful room that had \
small opening at the top, through which
the smoke escaped. He used dry hick-
ory bark that did not make much smoke
He was well armed, he had two old
muskets. one Winchester rifle, one shot
gun. and three large pistols, all well
loaded. His father supplied him with
leather and he made boots and shoes,
which his father sold. He was SO sus-
picious of me that he watched every
movement l made. watched him, too,
hut did not let him catch me. we had
6osn together two nights and neither
one of lis went to sleep. knew if l
went to sleep he would probably find
the pair of handouts carried in my hip
pocket. which would mean certain death.
On the third day about o'clock he fell
asleep, and while he was lying on his
side with his hands close together took
my handouts out of my hip pocket and
when clamped one around his arm he
jumped up, but l had him covered with
my pistol. and made him fastcn the
other on his other wrist. He sworo he
would not do it, and l was pressing on
the trigger and came in o second of kill
ing him before he gave in.